Seal for well-screens and means for setting same



A. THOMSON AND V. B. DANIELS. SEAL FOR WELL SCREENS AND MEANS FOR SETTING SAME. APPLICATION HLEDROV: 23, 1920.

. "11' 4 '-1 1 141 1 1 12- x 121 X-11 11 11 4/, 7 l i v 54 I I 51 i I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER THOMSON AND VEERIN B. DANIELS, or soon LAKE, TEXAS.

SEAL FOR WELL-SCREENS AND FOR SETTING SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Application filed November 23, 1920. Serial No: 425,957.

To all 10 ham it may concern B it known that we, ALEXANDERTHOM- SON and VEIJRIN B. DANIELS, citizens of the United States, residing at Sour Lake, in the county of I-Iardinan'd State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Seals for Well-Screens and Means for Setting Same, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention has reference to improve ments in seals for well screens and means for setting the same, and is designed to provide a permanent joint or seal between the screen section and the casing, and, at the same time to allow full opening through the screen for the passage of a bailer or for tubing.

In the'preferred form a featureof the invention finds embodiment in a ring of soft metal so mounted that when the tubing is lowered to the desired depth into the well,

the soft metal may be expanded or distended against the inner wall of the casing, forming a; permanent, effective and indestructible seal.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings illustrate a practical form of the invention, the latter is susceptible of other practical embodi ments, and, therefore is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the sallent features of theinvention.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ofour improvement assembled in a well and before seal is distended.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the seal distended. Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the seal expanding pipe and the well tubing. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. 1

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a well casing 1, which is assembled to be sunk to the desired depth. In Fig. 1 the upper endof a sleeve 2 is shown internally threaded left v handed at 3 and connected with a drill pipe 1, which is assumed to be of a length to'extend to the surface, and-may be of an appro riate number-of sections for the purpose. n threaded engagement with the lower end of the sleeve 2 is a coupling 5, to which, when setting a screen is usually connected one or more lengths of pipe 6, and to that the top end of the screen is connected; said pipe should extend upwarda 'sufiicient distance inside of the well casing" f to form a protected opening-from screen to. i

the casing.

A slidable collar 7 has its lower end bored to fit loosely overthe sleeve 2 and is counterbored at 8 to pass over an annular enlargement 9 on the upper end of the sleeve 2.

When thus assembled a lead ring 10 (Fig. 1)

iscast on the sleeve-2 and it extends from the coupling 5 to the collar 7. short distance above the lower end of the drill pipe 4, two holes are drilled at points diametrically opposite, and threaded to receive pins 11 which extend through spirally formed slots 12 formed in. a short section of pipe 13,

that is vertically slidable on pipe t. The

lower ends of the slots 12 start at opposite points on the pipe 13 and extend upward spirally one fourth of the distance around said pipe in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 3, hence when the sleeve 2 and li ted, the pins will pass to the upper ends of the slots, and saidends one or more joints of pipe 6, to which a suitable screen or strainer is attached, and sufficient pipe coupled to pipe 4 to reach the surface.

surface is turned right hand, and as their is sufficient friction on screen and joint or more of pipe to which it is connected to prevent same from turning, it will release left hand thread-3, allowing the pipe it to rise, and pipe 13 to assume and belocked in the relative position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the threaded end of pipe 4 receded above the end of 13. Then pipe 4, carrying the section 13, is lifted a few inches and 13 dro ped on top end of collar 7 which forces it d wnward, causing expansion of the lead and eflecting a permanent seal between the When the screen is set at bottom of. well and the well has been bailed, the pipe at ipe 4 is disengaged from well casing.

section 13 may ble loss of the well,

' claim as new and sleeve 2 and the casing; when the pipe 4: with be drawn from the well.

The present method of sealing between a screen and the casing is to use a right and left hand threaded coupling,

thread at top, and casting a lead "collar on top half, with lead projecting above the coupling. When the lefthand thread is released'from the set pipe and the plpe withdrawn, a cone-shaped let into the well and flaring it funnel shaped, which makes an uncertain joint as it permits a very light pressure from below to pass it, with proball ith our invention the lead is set out 'or sealed before set pipe is withdrawn from the well, and when withdrawn it is not neces sary to put it baclr again and therefore saves much time and expense.

When necessary or desired to remove the screen from a well, a hollow tapered tap is used to screw in the top of sleeve 2, when all the attached parts maybe withdrawn. lt top end of collar 7 is also noted that the also of sleeve 2 are chamfe'red inside, making a fair approach for bailer or tubing when entering the screen.

' While we prefer rial, as it flows readily under pressure or 1mpact, and is unafiected by acids, being practically indestructible, it will be understood that the invention embraces any an other well known materials capable'ofsub stitution therefor.

Having thus ters Patent:

.1. A seal for well screens and means. for setting i for the screen per end, and the coupling, a collar slidable on saidsleeve, an expansible ring between the coupling and sleeve, said slidable collar'being arranged to expand the expansible ring when in place into engagement with setting samein well casings with sectlon provld'ed with a coupling with left hand tool is attached and dropped on the lead,

lead as a sealing mate described our invention, we desire to secure by Let.

' and extending through spirally in the second named pipe and adapting same comprising a carrymgmeans having a coupling at its-up a sleeve member connected with in" unison,

the interior of the 2. A seal for well screens and means for the screen per end, a. sleeve member connected with said coupling, a collar slidable on saidsleeve, an expansible ring between the coupling and sleeve, and a pipe section having left'hand threads at its lower end adapted to screw into the sleeve structure, a short pipe section receiving the first named pipe in telescoping relation thereto, the first named, pipe having two threaded pins diametrically opposite which extend through spirally formed slots formed in the second named pipe for constraining the two pipes to travel vertically in unison, and when raised and dropped, cause the last named pipe to con tact the collar and r1ng into engagement with expand the expansible the interior of the well casing.

3. A seal for well screens and means for setting same in well casings comprising one or more joints of pipe connected with the top end of a well screen and extending in to the upper threaded en;- end of said the casing, a coupling attached end of said pipe, a sleeve in gagement with the, other coupling, a slrdable collar on the sleeve, a "lead ring cast about the sleeve 'filling the at its. up-

space between its lower endand the upper end. offsaid coupling and with'both, a left hand thread in. the upper 1- end of 'thesleeveadapted to receive the a short section of lower end of a drill pipe,

pipe receiving the said pipe in telescoping relation thereto, the first named pipe havingtwo threaded pins oppositely disposed formed slots them, when released from-thesleeve' to move and when raised and dropped cause the last named pipe to contact the collar andexpand the lead ring, set forth.

tures.

ALEXANDER THOMSQN. VEERlN B. DANHJLS.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signal exteriorly flush for the purpose 

